Buccaneer State Park, hailed as the most popular among all of Mississippi’s beautiful state parks, holds a special place among the Coast’s long list of attractions.

This summer, Buccaneer is again drawing campers and other fans of the outdoors to Hancock County after being restored following Hurricane Katrina.

Location is key to Buccaneer’s popularity and having the Gulf of Mexico at the front door is a natural draw. The peaceful setting inside the park is dotted with moss-laden oaks and rich natural vegetation and animal life. During the summer season Buccaneer Bay, the 4.5-acre waterpark, makes the park the top destination for those who like to cool off.

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The Pirate’s Lagoon Wave Pool, covering 17,400 square feet, is the place to body surf, bob up and down in swells and ride six-foot waves atop an inner tube toward the edge of the surf pool. There are eight wave patterns generated in the 460,000-gallon pool, so the experience is always changing for swimmers.

There are two giant waterslides to choose from atop a 40-foot tower. Pirate’s Plank is a 375-foot-long waterslide that’s completely enclosed, and the wide open Pirate's Plunge is a 425-foot body slide with twists and turns all the way down to the refreshing pool below.

Young swimmers have their own kiddie pool called Lil’ Smuggler’s Cove where they can safely enjoy splashing and playing in 12 inches of water.

For those who prefer to grab some sun and watch the activities, there’s Treasure Island, a 10,000-square-foot deck perfect for lounging around the pool. Nearby the Sea Dog Galley concession area and food court has lots of shady areas where you can enjoy pizza, burgers, sandwiches and cold drinks.

Myrna Green, Hancock County Tourism manager, says that Buccaneer State Park has always been the most popular Mississippi State Park, in part because of its unique beachfront location. Over the past 10 years, the entire infrastructure has been rebuilt and enhanced. The new water park facilities have spread the park's reputation even further as a premier family attraction.

"Buccaneer offers that phenomenal water park, in addition to camping, beach, easy access, and a great view," says Green. "No wonder it's one of the top visitor attractions in the state. We're so fortunate it's here in Hancock County."

The new free Beach Blvd. Trolley service makes it easy - and inexpensive for families in Bay St. Louis and Waveland to get to and from the park without hassling with parking. The trolley stops at the park at least once per hour. See the map and timetable below!

Buccaneer Bay Waterpark is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Aug. 1 and on weekends only from Aug. 2 to Sept. 5.